A Decadent Stay at One Aldwych, London

I decided to kick start my 2017 by taking a little trip back down to London. The main reason for the trip was to take a series of exciting meetings with brands and PRs. I had also organised a fun blogger’s brunch with some fellow bloggers, which ended up being a highlight of the trip. With a full diary of engagements around central London, it only made sense to find a central base. This is why I decided to call One Aldwych home for 2 days and 2 nights. Here’s the story of my decadent stay at One Aldwych, London.

In the Heart of Theatre Land

Getting to One Aldwych from Kings Cross was a breeze. I hopped on to the Piccadilly Line and within a few stops I was at Covent Garden. The walk from Covent Garden to One Aldwych took 5-10 minutes (whilst fabulously dragging a suitcase) and made me appreciate how amazingly located this hotel is. As well as being nestled on the edge of Theatre Land, it’s also directly opposite Waterloo Bridge, so spectacular London views and the buzzing South Bank are only a short stroll away. It’s the best of both worlds.

First Impressions

Two attentive doormen were ready to greet me at the grand entrance of One Aldwych. They swung open the super-size doors and offered to take my luggage as soon as I entered the building (so far so good). Despite the dreary January weather, the lobby looked bright, inviting and sumptuously decorated. Four huge flower arrangements dominated the room, which made it look very luxurious.

One Aldywch is a contemporary hotel in a historical building, meaning the ceilings are high, the rooms are grand and there are characterful original features throughout. I loved the quirky details such as the purple lift lighting and super-stretched lobby chairs. They added a lovely dose of character and a nice balance between classic and contemporary.

Deluxe Dreams

My spacious deluxe room was located on the 6th floor of the hotel, which meant it came with incredible views overlooking the city. To my left I could see the London Eye peaking over the rooftops, below me was the famous Lyceum Theatre (the long-standing home to The Lion King Musical) and to my right was Covent Garden.

The deluxe room had plenty of luxurious amenities including fluffy robes and slippers, extensive mini-bar, his and hers sinks and a heavenly cloud-like bed. However, I was surprised to find there were no tea and coffee making facilities in the room, especially as it is a 5 star hotel (after my stay I found out that tea and coffee making facilities are available, but only on request. This wasn’t mentioned to me at check-in). The bathroom was equally as spacious and I loved the heated floor. A handwritten welcome note and white chocolate macarons added a personal touch and definitely didn’t go unappreciated.

My Oskia Facial at The Spa

No sooner had I arrived it was time to head down to the The Spa at One Aldwych for my Oskia facial. I had booked this a few weeks in advance of my stay and was so looking forward to it. I arrived to the spa rather flustered in fear of being late, but was met by the receptionist and suddenly felt an unmistakable aura of calm.

After changing into a robe and slippers I was met by my wonderful therapist Carleen who radiated an equally calming persona. Carleen made me feel really at ease and within 5 minutes I began to really relax into the experience. I visit spas regularly, but I would usually always pick a massage over a facial, so it was nice to change things up and try something different.

The facial experience felt incredibly personal and Carleen asked me lots of questions about my lifestyle and skincare routine. She looked closely at my skin under the light and chose products based on what my skin needed. I loved the experience and would highly recommend the lovely Carleen as a facialist.

A Hidden Oasis

An un-doubtable talking point of One Aldywch is the stunning indoor pool. With chlorine-free water and calming underwater music, I think it’s one of the most unique swimming pools in London. The area is beautifully lit in purple and is a beautiful extension to the spa. The complex also has a sauna and aromatherapy-infused steam room which are both unisex.

Our Basque Country Feast at Eneko

On the first night of my stay my younger Sister joined me for a three-course feast at Eneko, One Aldwych’s new fine dining restaurant. Behind this unique Basque Country restaurant is renowned chef Eneko Atxa, who has added a fresh modern twist on traditional Basque dishes.

Before dining at Eneko I had no idea what Basque Country cuisine would involve, but I was really impressed at the freshness, flavours and diversity of all the dishes. Our indulgent feast began with fresh bread served with butter and a delicious basil emulsion.

A few of my favourite dishes include the Basque Duck Liver Parfair and Txakoli Apple and the Traditional Talo with heritage tomatoes. For my main I ordered the Pork Cheeks with Ham Duxelle and Confit Shallots which was melt in the mouth and absolutely delicious.

I savoured every bite and slowly sipped on our rich oaky Rioja. I rounded the meal off with a deliciously different cappuccino cheesecake, which came served within a cappuccino cup. Eneko is a creative dining experience, which is sure to enhance any stay at One Aldwych.

The Ultimate Blogger Breakfast

On the final morning of my stay at One Aldwych I got to enjoy a late leisurely breakfast with my Sister. We strolled down to Indigo Restaurant at about 10am and found a table with plenty of light (for good photos of course). I ordered a cappuccino and perused the menu but knew there was only one clear winner; the Eggs Benedict. The dish was perfectly presented the eggs were done to perfection, but best part was the impeccable hollandaise sauce. I’m struggling to remember a place where I’ve had a better Eggs Benedict.

The Verdict

I absolutely loved this hotel stay at One Aldwych. My incredible facial, the indulgent feast at Eneko and the wondrous Eggs Benedict were definite highlights. But in general, the attentive staff, sumptuous surroundings and fantastic location made One Aldywch the perfect base for my January jaunt to London. Thank you so much to all the staff involved in my stay.

Perfect for; luxurious city breaks to London and romantic retreats. A great option if you’re planning to see The Lion King and other West End shows

What did you think of my stay at One Aldywch? Have you visited this hotel before or are you considering a stay? If you enjoyed this post or have any questions about the hotel, please leave me a comment below x

This sounds and looks like such a lovely treat! I probably shouldn’t have looked at this post with all those delicious food pictures right now as I’m about to go out for dinner and am now planning on eating all the courses, instead of the purse-friendly one I had been planning on. Oh well! 🙂 xxx
Lucy @ La Lingua | Life, Travel, Italy

Hey Lucy! This comment made me smile! Hope you ordered lots of delicious food when you went out for your meal! We certainly over ordered at Eneko but everything on the menu sounded SO good. Thanks for your comment x

The pool looks fabulous Jess and I don’t think I’ve ever been in one that’s had underwater music before – that must have been very calming! I visited One Aldwych about 4 years ago now and booked their fabulous Film and Fizz deal – it was such a great date night and a really lovely hotel too xx

Hi Maggie! Thanks for your comment. The underwater music is really unique and definitely makes the swimming more of an experience. Great to hear you enjoyed One Aldwych! I think their fizz and film nights are still on 🙂 xx

The hotel looks lovely – what fab lighting in the lifts too! I stayed in a luxury hotel that didn’t have any tea or coffee making facilities a few months ago and I too found it rather disappointing. I always see having a cup of tea in my hotel bedroom to be quite a basic thing really x

Ooh I never tried a cocktail actually! But the bar was definitely buzzing even at 4pm on a Friday. The facial was gorgeous, I would definitely go back especially just for that. Thanks for your comment Angie! xx

The Travelista is an award-winning UK luxury travel blog from Yorkshire via The World. Based in Leeds but frequently travelling, Jess loves to combine local and global adventures. All posts that are packed with advice and recommendations to help you plan your own trips.